A NEW 'golfing hub' is teeing off in Worcester after council chiefs agreed a long-term lease at Perdiswell.

An agreement has been struck between Worcester City Council and Ravenmeadow Golf Centre over nine holes at the northern stretch of Perdiswell Park.

Under the contract terms, the private company will seek planning permission for an improved driving range and a family-friendly 'adventure golf course' for children.

The lease means a short term arrangement, offering people 18 holes by combining its Hindlip Lane base with Perdiswell Park, is now permanent.

It was voted through unanimously during a full city council meeting on Tuesday night.

During the debate Labour Councillor Roger Berry, a cabinet member, said: "As a city, this is something we should be really proud of.

"It's been a great success and in time, there is also a great chance to offer even better facilities."

Conservative Councillor Mike Johnson added: "It's win-win - and it also deals with the inevitable issue of golfers and dog walkers being in conflict, which was uncomfortable for both sides."

The old temporary deal was put in place to compensate for the closure of nine other holes at the southern part of Perdiswell Park so a culvert could be repaired.

It proved a big hit with golfers, with 82.5 per cent of people who took part in a council survey calling for the change to be made permanent.

The long-term lease also requires Ravenmeadow to enhance and expand golf facilities across its site and Perdiswell.

After the meeting James Leaver, Ravenmeadow's director of golf, said: "We and our golfers are very excited the council has backed this successful new way of providing golf in Worcester, and the great news is that this is just the beginning.

"We’ll now be investing in the 18-hole course to make it even more popular with our club members and with customers.

"We’ll also be preparing a planning application for improvements to our driving range.

"Golf should be for everyone, so we are drawing up plans for Worcester’s first adventure golf course."

Adventure golf courses have been big successes in many parts of the country including Bristol, Liverpool, London and Brighton.

Bigger and better than old fashioned crazy golf, the courses boast fun themes like jungles, dinosaurs or pirates.

David Blake, the council's managing director, said: “The partnership with Ravenmeadow has been a hole-in-one success, so we're very pleased to be awarding this lease."

The old golfing section on the southern part of Perdiswell, which is near the £10 million swimming pool building, will now be fully re-opened to walkers.